Program: B-Tech , CSE, 1st Semester,FIRST YEAR

BT-104:Basic Electrical & Electronics Engg.

Unit:-01
D.C.Circuit/Thevenin’s Theorem
July-Dec.-2021/09
Mr. Mangesh Singh Tomar
Assistant Professor,
Department of EC & Electrical Engg.

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Outlines

• Prerequisite of topic

• Problem Objective

• Thevenin’s Theorem

• Assignment/exercise on topic

• Learning Outcomes

• References
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Prerequisite of Thevenin’s Theorem

• for better understanding or learn about this topic , students should

know or aware about Krichoff’s Law (KCL & KVL) ,Ohm’s Law
along with Voltage Division Rule/Current division Rule etc and
mesh current analysis and nodal voltage analysis

• This Topic introduces you to the fundamental concepts of

Thevenin’s Theorem and its application

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Thevenin’s Theorem

Fig. shows a network enclosed in a box with two terminals A and B brought out. The
network in the box may consist of any number of resistors and e.m.f. sources connected in
any manner. But according to Thevenin, the entire circuit behind terminals A and B can be
replaced by a single source of e.m.f. (called Thevenin voltage) in series with a single
resistance (called Thevenin resistance)

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Thevenin’s Theorem

as shown in Fig. The values of and are determined as mentioned in Thevenin’s theorem.
Once Thevenin’s equivalent circuit is obtained , then current I through any load resistance
connected across AB is given by

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Thevenin’s Theorem

• Thevenin’s theorem as applied to d.c. circuits is stated below :

• Any two terminals of a linear, bilateral electrical network consisting of active and
passive elements (i.e., voltage sources and resistors) can be replaced by an
equivalent voltage source () and an equivalent series resistance ()

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Procedure for Finding Thevenin Equivalent Circuit

• (i) Open the two terminals (i.e., remove any load) between which you want to
find Thevenin equivalent circuit.

• (ii) Find the open-circuit voltage between the two open terminals. It is called
Thevenin voltage .

• (iii) Determine the resistance between the two open terminals with all ideal
voltage sources shorted and all ideal current sources opened (a non-ideal source
is replaced by its internal resistance). It is called Thevenin resistance .

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Procedure for Finding Thevenin Equivalent Circuit

• (iv) Connect and in series to produce Thevenin equivalent circuit between the
two terminals under consideration.

• (v) Place the load resistor removed in step (i) across the terminals of the
Thevenin equivalent circuit. The load current can now be calculated using only
Ohm’s law and it has the same value as the load current in the original circuit

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Procedure for Finding Thevenin Equivalent Circuit

• Consider the circuit shown in Fig.(i) As far as the circuit behind terminals AB is
concerned, it can be replaced by a single source of e.m.f. in series with a single
resistance as shown in Fig.(ii).Following steps are taken

• 1. Remove Load Resistance ()as shown in fig-(ii)

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Procedure for Finding Thevenin Equivalent Circuit
• Step-2:-Finding .:- The e.m.f. is the voltage across terminals AB with load (i.e. )
removed as shown in Fig. With disconnected, there is no current in and is the
voltage
• appearing across

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Procedure for Finding Thevenin Equivalent Circuit

• Step-3. Finding .:- To find , remove the load and replace the battery by a short-
circuit because its internal resistance is assumed zero. Then resistance between
terminals A and B is equal to as shown in Fig. Obviously, at the terminals AB in
Fig. (i), and are in parallel and this parallel combination is in series with .

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Procedure for Finding Thevenin Equivalent Circuit

• Step-4.:- Draw equivalent circuit . then load is connected between terminals A

and B , then find the current in is given as ;

𝑉 𝑡h
𝐼 𝐿=
𝑅𝑡h + 𝑅 𝐿

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Numerical

• Using Thevenin’s theorem, find p.d. across terminals AB in Fig

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Numerical

• 2.Find
• There is no current flow through 4 Ω resistance. It means voltage drop across 4
Ω is zero
• Potential at point A and C is same (
• Using Nodal Analysis Find (

• )=0
• =0….

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Numerical

• 3.Find across terminal (A-B)

• 4.Draw Equivalent Circuit

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Numerical

5. Draw Equivalent Circuit and connect load

resistance () across open circuit terminal(A-B)

𝑉 𝑇h
𝐼 𝐿=
𝑅𝑇h + 𝑅𝐿

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Advantages of Thevenin’s Theorem

• (i) It reduces a complex circuit to a simple circuit viz. a single source of e.m.f. in
series with a single resistance .

• (ii) It greatly simplifies the portion of the circuit of lesser interest and enables us
to view the action of the output part directly.

• (iii) This theorem is particularly useful to find current in a particular branch of a

network as the resistance of that branch is varied while all other resistances and
sources remain constant.

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Limitation of Thevenin’s Theorem

1. Not Applicable to the circuits consisting of nonlinear elements

2. Not Applicable to unilateral networks

3. There should not be magnetic coupling between the load and circuit to be
replaced by thevenin’s theorem.

4. In the load side , there should not be controlled sources, controlled from some
other part of the circuit.

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Assignment/Exercise
• 1. Use superposition principle to find current
• through R1 in Fig.
• (i) 1 mA ← (ii) 2 mA ←
• (iii) 1·5 mA → (iv) 2·5 A ←

• 2 Use superposition principle to find current

• through R1 in the circuit shown in Fig.

• (i) 0·2 A ← (ii) 0·25 A →

• (iii) 0·125 A → (iv) 0·5 A →

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Assignment/Exercise
• 3. The superposition theorem is used when the
• circuit contains ..........
• (i) a single voltage source
• (ii) a number of voltage sources
• (iii) passive elements only
• (iv) none of the above
• 4. A linear circuit is one whose parameters (e.g.
• resistances etc.) ..........
• (i) change with change in current
• (ii) change with change in voltage
• (iii) do not change with voltage and current
• (iv) none of the above
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Learning Outcomes

 Use mathematics, Superposition Theorem to analyze and solve problems in

simple and complex D.C. circuits typical of those found in both electrical and
electronic applications.

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References

1. Basic Electrical and Electronics Engg. Sahdev –Chaturvedi Dhanpat Rai

2. Electrical Engg., B.L.Thareja, S.Chand

3. Basic Electrical Engg., J.B.Gupta, Kataria and Sons

4. Basic Electrical Engg., V.N.Mittal, TMH

5. Basic Electrical Engg. Nagrath Kothari, III edition TMH

6. Basic Electrical Engg., V.K.Mehta, S.Chand and co.,New Dehli

7. Basic Electrical Engg., C.L.Wadhwa, New Age International

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